Maybe not, but the intensity on display Wednesday was certainly something different from what we’ve seen in the summer league so far. The Nuggets defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 87-82 in their first “playoff” game in Las Vegas, advancing to the round of 16 in the tournament with their first win in four tries.

The game was marked by physical play and tighter rotations by both coaches. There’s no doubt guys were trying to win and coaches had a little less patience for the evaluation process than they did in the earlier part of summer league.

Jordan Hamilton returned to the team after taking a leave of absence to attend a funeral in Los Angeles. He came out firing on all cylinders, setting the tone early with 18 first quarter points. From then on the Nuggets nursed their lead while fending off Pelicans runs until a competitive fourth quarter in which the Nuggets pulled out the victory behind timely scoring from the sophomore contingent of Quincy Miller and Evan Fournier.

“We wanted to come out really aggressive and set the tone early, and obviously Jordan Hamilton shot the basketball and played with great confidence. He set the tone for us and led by example — we needed that” said Melvin Hunt, who assumed most of the coaching duties for Wednesday’s game.

“We lost three in a row. Our mindset was just to win, regardless of anything else” said starting point guard CJ Harris, who hit all three of his shots and was instrumental in finally getting the Nuggets some offense inside the paint.

When Darius Johnson-Odom was asked what was different about Wednesday’s mindset, he replied “We just wanted to win. It’s the start of a new day with the tournament and we needed a win. We got us one and now we just wanna keep going.”

The other big story of the game was the lights-out perimeter shooting of Quincy Miller. The 6-10 combo forward was on fire, shooting a perfect 5-for-5 from deep and delivering the timeliest makes of the night. The Nuggets looked to Quincy when they needed big fourth quarter buckets and he showed an ability to hit big-time shots under pressure.

Erick Green added 14 points off the bench, shaking off a lot of his earlier struggles and looking much more confident and composed in a secondary scorer’s role.

As a result of the win, Denver moves on to the next round of the tournament where they will face the #6 seed Toronto Raptors on Thursday at 4:00pm MST. It will be the Nuggets fourth game in as many nights. As the Nuggets look to advance in the tournament tomorrow here’s a sampling of Nuggets news and notes from around the gym at summer league.

CJ Harris Q&A

I talked to CJ Harris after his solid performance as the starting point guard, and the rookie told me he’s making the transition to more of a pure point guard role in the NBA. Here’s what we covered in the short Q&A session.

Q: For people that haven’t seen you play before, describe your gameA: I do a little bit of everything. Coming out of college, I was strictly a shooter. That’s probably my biggest strength. But throughout the summer I’ve learned to play the point guard position, find open guys and take shots when I’m open.

Q: Why do you think the offense struggled so much in the first three games?A: Yeah, it was tough getting our chemistry. First time we’ve all been together and it took us a while to gel. We did a great job sharing the ball today and it paid off.

Q: Do you think you could be a 40% three-point shooter in the NBA?A: Absolutely. Yeah, that’s the definite strength of my game. I haven’t gotten too many three-point looks out here yet, but I’m thinking I’ve made all of them so far.

Q: What’s the secret to being efficient shooting the ball? Is it just taking good shots?A: That and being confident. I think confidence is really big in shooting. I definitely have a lot of confidence in my shot.

Q: What have the coaches been stressing in terms of concepts and the system they want?A: Defense and being really agressive. We want to get stops and immediately push. Setting up the plays comes secondary. That’s what they’ve been harping on.

Q: When they do call plays, what do they want you to run?A: It’s a little bit of pick and rolls. We’ve also got Jordan, Evan coming off down screens. We’ve got Q picking and popping, stuff like that. Just utilizing everybody’s strengths.

Melvin Hunt on Quincy Miller’s development

Talking to coach Melvin Hunt after the game, I asked if Quincy’s summer league success as a stretch four meant the Nuggets would look for him to play that role in the NBA. Hunt said the Nuggets are still in an evaluation process in terms of what he can do and that they’ve always viewed him as a guy who will play multiple positions.

“Quincy’s a basketball player, a new-age basketball player” said Hunt. “He’s long, athletic, can play multiple positions and gives us multiple skills. He’s just a new-age basketball player.”

When asked about his development from last summer to this one, coach Hunt said “He’s gotta continue to keep showing us different things. One thing coach Shaw has assessed since he’s been here is that we’re gonna make mistakes, so how about we make new mistakes? We want to see growth and development out of all our guys. With Quincy, we don’t want to see him making the same mistakes he was in the beginning of the tournament and [repeating those] towards the end of the tournament. We want him to make new ones. This is just the summer league.”

Inconsistency is the universal given in summer league, and right now the Nuggets look like an inexperienced team facing too much of it from every direction. Progress was on display on the offensive end, where the Nuggets had more success shooting the ball and creating off the dribble, but much of that was negated by their inability to guard the pick and roll or string together more than a couple possessions of mistake-free defense.

Denver’s small army of summer league coaches was active on Tuesday night, getting a lot of one-on-one time with individual players after frequent breakdowns on both ends of the floor. I found myself lamenting how difficult it must be to stay focused while having a gang of grown men yelling at you after every possession, but ultimately that’s what summer league is all about. It’s a format where coaches are going to live with those mistakes and start the process of creating the right kind of habits.

Once again, it was another sloppy game that didn’t tell us much we didn’t already know. Evan Fournier has looked like a bonafide NBA player while everyone else… hasn’t. Luke Harangody’s reckless all-out effort has been fun, but none of Denver’s bigs have looked passable on defense and outside of Evan, none of the guards have managed to stand out yet either.

I got my first chance to speak with players and coaches after the game and here’s a few storylines to keep an eye on heading into the tournament portion of summer league, which starts on Wednesday.

Coach Conner preaches D

Two things became abundantly clear when getting to know newly-appointed assistant head coach Lester Conner: he’s extremely hands-on with players and is most definitely all about defense.

Conner didn’t seem too worried about shot selection or sloppy offense, but he was getting into guys after obvious defensive lapses, of which there many on Monday night. One thing he harped on in particular was the lack of communication guarding the pick and roll.

“They didn’t trust each other on the pick and roll coverage,” Conner said. “We had different coverages with the big guys, the fours and fives, plugging where they were letting [ballhandlers] come against the grain and get all the way to the rim. They weren’t impacting the basketball so that’ll be something we clean up tomorrow.”

Odom and Green forming a bond

DJ Odom has been one of the better point guards on the roster, looking the part of a veteran who plays solid D and knows how to make plays in transition. Another thing the second-year guard can add to his impressive resume: leadership. Rookie Erick Green told me after the game how Odom has been mentoring him and helping him adjust to the higher level of competition.

“I’m trying to learn. DJ has been a good role model for me, taking me under his wing, talking to me” said Green. “The main thing is he wants me to go out there and play my game and he sees that I’m not confident yet. So I have to get that going and get my confidence back.”

Hamilton reflects on Karl

Behind the scenes, Jordan Hamilton has worked harder than just about any Nugget over the past two years. Every coach I’ve talked to praised his work ethic and dedication to improving his body, which was a focus after his rookie season.

After George Karl was fired in June, he defended his track record with young players, claiming that while he did not give them a lot of minutes all of the young guys were getting better. However even Karl singled out Hamilton as the one youngster he perhaps didn’t do a great job with, as Jordan is now heading into his third season still waiting for a meaningful opportunity to prove himself and earn minutes.

After spending his first two seasons seemingly buried in Karl’s doghouse, you might expect Jordan to be frustrated with the relationship. As a matter of fact, Jordan praised Karl for aiding his development and denied any communication issues with the former head coach.

“I know he emphasized me being a young player. He always used to say I’m really supposed to be in my senior year of college, so that’s how I knew he prides himself on being harsh to young guys. But it was a good thing because I’ve learned a lot from coach Karl. He’s taught me some things and I’ve learned how to be patient.”

]]>http://www.roundballminingcompany.com/2013/07/16/summer-league-recap-chicago-bulls-93-denver-nuggets-81/feed/4Summer League Reaction: Milwaukee Bucks 88, Denver Nuggets 74http://www.roundballminingcompany.com/2013/07/13/instareaction-milwaukee-bucks-88-denver-nuggets-74/
http://www.roundballminingcompany.com/2013/07/13/instareaction-milwaukee-bucks-88-denver-nuggets-74/#commentsSun, 14 Jul 2013 03:55:14 +0000http://www.roundballminingcompany.com/?p=6943In the first game of the 2013 Las Vegas summer league, the Denver Nuggets fell to the Milwaukee Bucks in what ended up being a blowout shortly after halftime. While there were a few bright spots, the Nuggets ultimately sealed their fate by shooting a low percentage from the field and giving a halfhearted effort on the defensive side of the ball. But, this is summer league we’re talking about, so those things can be expected.

There’s really not much to talk about in regards to this game. As was already mentioned above, the Nuggets shot poorly from the floor (35 percent) and didn’t do much to stop their opponents from getting buckets of their own. No players really stood out on either side of the floor except John Henson who finished with 19 points, 13 rebounds and three blocked shots for Milwaukee. Dominique Jones also had a strong outing for the Bucks, finishing with 18 points on 6-10 shooting from the floor; but dude’s been showing up for summer league for as long as I can remember so he’s kinda got this whole selfish scoring thing down.

Nuggets player notes:

Quincy Miller: Probably had the most interesting game of anybody on the Nuggets roster. He didn’t shoot well (who did?), but made up for it by playing impressive post defense and hustling on both ends of the floor. He hit a three, collected eight rebounds and notched three blocked shots. The Bucks did a great job of clogging the lane, which is where Quincy does most of his damage. Had he been able to penetrate he might have finished with a really impressive stat line. Quincy is an intriguing prospect overall. I always thought being labeled a “tweener” was overblown, but in his case it might actually be a serious hindrance as he appears to be too short to guard traditional power forwards and too long to defend the modern-day small wing. Nevertheless, Nuggets fans should be encouraged with what they saw. After he settles in, Quincy might very well put on a show by the end of the week.

Evan Fournier: Nobody looked more poised than this guy. He didn’t electrify anyone with his scoring but his intelligence was clearly on display. Fournier finished with 10 points and three boards, which was very pedestrian by his standards. Fournier’s already proven he can play at the next level so the upcoming few days will be more about getting his teammates involved and establishing a leadership role more than anything.

Erick Green: One of my worries about Green coming out of college was his low shooting percentages throughout his four-year career at Virginia Tech. And while the first summer league game of his career in which his entire team shoots like crap is the last thing from corroboration to my concerns, it was still interesting watching Green struggle to shoot. He played point guard most of the game and did a fine job bringing the ball up the court. His athleticism is certainly there as he showed the ability to get his shot off on more than one occasion; however, he never really succeeded in making it splash. Green clearly has potential and it will likely manifest itself at some point in Las Vegas. The only questions is: when and how often?

Jordan Hamilton: By now we all know what Hamilton is capable of. He belongs in the NBA, no doubt about it. He’s a scoring wing who can rebound and hit threes at a high rate when he’s on. But Hamilton also struggles with his decision making and some of that was visible against the Bucks. His shot wasn’t falling, just like everyone else’s; but unlike everyone else Hamilton resorted to cheap fouls and lazy defensive plays to vent his frustration. It wasn’t excessively jutting, but it was noticeable. Last year Hamilton averaged 19 points per game on 48 percent shooting from the field in Las Vegas so he’s already proven he can score against this level of competition. He’ll likely bounce back next game but monitoring his attitude is something Nuggets fans should be doing throughout the week.

Other player notes:

Ben Uzoh: Of all the players on the roster not named Evan Fournier, Uzoh was probably the most consistent and level headed. He didn’t do anything too over the top and hit some nice shots throughout the game. If he can continue to play solid basketball while stepping it up on the defensive side of the ball, he might catch the eye of a few scouts.

Darius Johnson-Odom: I thought this kid was a surefire NBA talent last year coming out of the draft, simply because he could score. That’s exactly what he did against the Bucks, scoring 10 points in 14 minutes; however, his contributions in other areas were lacking. He played well in Orlando and is another guy who stands a good chance of getting a training camp invite if he continues to play well.

Kyle Barone: He started off really slow but by the end of the game was making some impressive maneuvers in the low post. He finished with eight points on 4-4 shooting from the field in 10 minutes of action. This is one guy who won’t make the roster but will be fun to root for as the week progresses.

]]>http://www.roundballminingcompany.com/2013/07/13/instareaction-milwaukee-bucks-88-denver-nuggets-74/feed/112Denver Nuggets 2013 Summer League Previewhttp://www.roundballminingcompany.com/2013/07/12/denver-nuggets-2013-summer-league-preview/
http://www.roundballminingcompany.com/2013/07/12/denver-nuggets-2013-summer-league-preview/#commentsFri, 12 Jul 2013 14:00:19 +0000http://www.roundballminingcompany.com/?p=6937The Denver Nuggets will kick off summer league action on Saturday night against the Milwaukee Bucks, marking their ninth straight year of summer competition in Las Vegas. Interestingly enough, the Nuggets are the winningest franchise in summer league history with a cumulative 24-15 record since the Las Vegas league’s inception in 2004.

Of course part of the magic of summer league is the inescapable truth that records don’t matter. The NBA may be trying to change that with the introduction of a tournament format this year (more on that later), but by and large summer league exists solely as an evaluation tool and a training ground for rookies, fringe NBA talents, and assistant coaches.

This season, the Nuggets are bringing a guard-heavy 16-man roster to the table, with important opportunities up for grabs among several young players with real chances to not only make the roster, but possibly get in line for actual minutes in the upcoming season. Denver is only bringing in five players with NBA experience, but three of those (Miller, Hamilton, and Fournier) are returning from last year’s team and essentially guaranteed roster spots next season. Add in second round pick Erick Green, who is also a virtual lock to be signed, and that means this squad will feature at least four players who will definitely be on the 2013-2014 roster.

Newly-retained assistant Melvin Hunt will coach the team, which will start out with three exhibition games before beginning seeded tournament play on Wednesday. Each team is guaranteed to play at least five games and as many as eight for the two teams that reach the championship round.

Without further ado, here’s a breakdown of everyone on the roster and what to watch for when summer league action tips on Saturday night.

#31 // Preston Adams // Guard

The 6-0 guard played one season in 2010-2011 for Webber International University, an independent non-NCAA college. He is a major longshot to play at all and if he sees regular minutes it will be a major surprise.

#23 // O.D. Anosike // Power Forward

The undrafted rookie out of Siena was the NCAA’s leading rebounder each of the past two seasons. Anosike is a 6-8, 240-pound power forward who has drawn comparisons to the last player to lead the NCAA in rebounding before him, Kenneth Faried in 2011. He is known to have a high motor and Anosike is actually a sneaky pick to be the team’s starting power forward if Melvin Hunt elects to play Quincy Miller at the three. He will play some five too due to lack of depth at that position.

#25 // Joel Barkers // Forward

Nuggets fans who follow Ty Lawson on social media may already be aware of Barkers without actually knowing it. The 6-6 Forward is a longtime friend of Lawson’s and has been seen hanging with Ty since his days as a Nuggets rookie. He has lived in Denver and most recently London, where he played professionally last season. He is undersized but tough and could see minutes, although he does not figure to be a rotation staple.

#14 // Kyle Barone // Center

The only true center on the roster, Barone at 6-10 is the lone player taller than Quincy Miller who is 6-9. He is the starting five by default unless the Nuggets elect to go small. As a senior at Idaho he was named the WAC player of the year in 2012-2013. He is a very accomplished college player likely to end up in the D-League or overseas if not the NBA. Barone will have a chance to play regular minutes as he is the most skilled post player on the roster.

#94 // Evan Fournier // Guard

Fournier will start and play a lot. As a rookie he struggled with foul trouble and inconsistent shooting during his first summer league. This year, Fournier will be given free rein to show what he has and expected to carry a large load on both ends of the floor. He needs to demonstrate an ability to play both on and off the ball and a more consistent jumper if he wants to earn minutes next year.

#7 // Ramon Galloway // Guard

The 6-2 combo guard played four years at La Salle, where he developed into an impressive shooter and above average defender. However he averaged more turnovers than assists and at 6-2 and 175-pounds he is undersized at the two position. Galloway will be in the rotation and he strikes me as a guy who will be either surprisingly good or horrible. He is seen as having NBA potential – Galloway was ranked #85 on Chad Ford’s top 100 prospects for 2013.

#11 // Erick Green // Guard

Green is a classic tweener, which is what caused the NCAA’s leading scorer to slide way down draft boards and wind up in Denver at pick #46. Can he play point guard and score against NBA-caliber athletes? These are two questions the Nuggets hope to find answers for next week. Green could start at PG if he proves himself at that position. Either way he is perhaps the most interesting player on this roster and will see regular minutes.

#1 // Jordan Hamilton // Guard-Forward

Hamilton should start and is likely to lead the team in scoring. He put up impressive numbers in last year’s summer league but coaches told me they wanted to see him improve his defensive awareness and on-court composure. What Hamilton needs to do this summer is lead the team and make winning plays. He is one of the most talented scorers in summer league and can really help himself by figuring out when to look for his shot and when to get others involved. He must demonstrate an ability to guard other top scorers as well. I expect Jordan to dominate and be a sneaky pick to win summer league MVP.

#12 // Luke Harangody // Forward-Center

Harangody is one of the most experienced players on the roster. He spent two years in the NBA with the Celtics and Cavs in addition to a full year in the D-League last season. The big-man has shown no ability to make threes in the NBA which is why he’s fallen out of the league. Harangody must make threes at a high clip to have any chance of sticking. Because he is pretty skilled and experienced he stands to get regular rotation minutes.

#5 // CJ Harris // Point Guard

The Nuggets brought Harris in for two pre-draft workouts in Denver. He developed into a very efficient, well-rounded scorer in his three years at Wake Forest. He is similar to Erick Green in that he’s seen as a classic tweener who lacks NBA athleticism. His ability to create shots and score from all over the court make him a candidate to challenge for the starting point guard spot. Harris also might be the best three-point shooter on the team and should see regular minutes.

#20 // Richard Howell // Forward

Howell is another four-year college player known as a low-post guy who can shoot from midrange. His strength is rebounding, where Howell is excellent. He is undersized at 6-8 and 250 pounds but makes up for it with skill, strength and toughness. I like Howell as a potential surprise on this roster but his size might be an issue and could prevent him from getting big minutes. He was ranked #53 in Chad Ford’s Top 100 and was probably good enough to get drafted in the second round, but didn’t.

#30 // Quincy Miller // Forward

Quincy looked lost in last year’s summer league, particularly on defense where he was too thin to match up with bigs and too slow to guard NBA wings. As a result he had no role and didn’t get a chance to play many minutes even in summer league. That should change this summer where Quincy is a favorite to start at either the three or four. Quincy has been working hard and the Nuggets need to see what they have with him, but it’s hard to know what to expect. I am looking for Quincy to work harder than anyone else on the floor and muscle his way into more shots and minutes. His role is unclear at this point so he has to earn one.

#12 // Darius Johnson-Odom // Guard

Odom is an above-average defender who spent most of his rookie season in the D-League. The former Lakers second-round pick is another scoring combo guard on a roster full of them. He is fighting an uphill battle for minutes but as a strong defender who can score in bunches, I like Odom to carve out some kind of role. He had a few nice games in the Orlando summer league with the Boston Celtics.

#22 // Travis Releford // Guard

Releford is a very interesting guy. He was previously viewed as one of the nation’s top high school recruits before fading into a complimentary role at Kansas. Releford, however, turned into one of the very best role players in the country at Kansas where he started alongside Ben McLemore last season. His high-IQ and versatile defense made him an absolutely crucial player for the Jayhawks. He lacks athleticism but his defense seems like it could catch Melvin Hunt’s eye and earn him a spot in the rotation.

#6 // Chace Stanbeck // Guard

He is a spot-up shooter who played at UCLA and UNLV. He went undrafted in 2012 and wound up in the D-League last season. He could offer some three-point shooting but in my view, only stands to get minutes if other guards ahead of him struggle.

#4 // Ben Uzoh // Point Guard

Uzoh is the veteran of the roster, having spent time with three different NBA teams. He also played overseas and in the D-League. Uzoh has talent – he once recorded a triple-double with the Raptors – but expectations need to be tempered because he’s 25 and has shown no ability to stick in the NBA. Uzoh was in training camp with the Nuggets last season but didn’t make the roster. He is a dark horse to show out and surprise some people, but his upside may be limited in comparison to other options the Nuggets have at the guard spots.

]]>http://www.roundballminingcompany.com/2013/07/12/denver-nuggets-2013-summer-league-preview/feed/22Link: Denver Nuggets announce 2013 Summer League rosterhttp://www.roundballminingcompany.com/2013/07/08/link-denver-nuggets-announce-2013-summer-league-roster/
http://www.roundballminingcompany.com/2013/07/08/link-denver-nuggets-announce-2013-summer-league-roster/#commentsTue, 09 Jul 2013 01:34:36 +0000http://www.roundballminingcompany.com/?p=6915For the ninth straight year the Denver Nuggets will participate in the Las Vegas summer league competition. Headlined by Evan Fournier, Jordan Hamilton, Quincy Miller and 2013 second-round pick, Erick Green, the Nuggets will trot out yet another highly competitive summer league squad teeming with talent. In addition to those under contract the Nuggets have also invited numerous undrafted players, most notably North Caronlina State’s Richard Howell, Kansas’ Travis Releford, Marquette’s Darius Johnson-Odom and Notre Dame’s Luke Harangody. Former Nuggets draftees not on the roster include 2011 second-round pick Chu Chu Maduabum, 2012 second-round pick Izzet Turkyilmaz and 2013 second-round pick Joffrey Lauvergne. There is no word as to who will be coaching the team at the moment. Competition kicks of Sat., July 13, at 8 p.m.
]]>http://www.roundballminingcompany.com/2013/07/08/link-denver-nuggets-announce-2013-summer-league-roster/feed/24Denver Nuggets Big Board: Digging for gold in the second roundhttp://www.roundballminingcompany.com/2012/06/27/denver-nuggets-big-board-digging-for-gold-in-the-second-round/
http://www.roundballminingcompany.com/2012/06/27/denver-nuggets-big-board-digging-for-gold-in-the-second-round/#commentsWed, 27 Jun 2012 07:08:16 +0000http://www.roundballminingcompany.com/?p=4032In the final edition of our Big Board series we’ll be taking a look at an array of prospects slated to be available in the second round of the 2012 NBA Draft. Because this half of the draft is so unpredictable and because I did not get a chance to watch some of these players, there will not be a designated order in which they appear. These are simply the best players, in no specific order, forecasted to land outside of the first round in the eyes of most draft aficionados.

(Key: The Nuggets possess the 38th and 50th picks in the Draft. Those who appear underlined are players who may be available with the 38th pick in the Draft but will likely be off the board by the 50th pick. Those who appear in italics are players I covet most.)

Doron Lamb // Kentucky // Shooting Guard

An extremely underrated player at this point. Probably the second best shooter in the Draft next to John Jenkins. Has great range and can score in a variety of ways going to the basket. Undersized for a shooting guard but likely won’t be asked to do much besides score off the bench. Possible second coming of Jason Terry.

Jared Cunningham // Oregon State // Shooting Guard

One of the best pure athletes in the Draft. Biggest strength is his quickness and defense which results in a barrage of steals. Was selected to the Pac 12 All-Defensive Team twice. Regarded as the best defensive player in his conference by a wide margin. Can play both point guard and shooting guard. Loves to get out in transition.

Orlando Johnson // UC Santa Barbra // Shooting Guard

Fantastic offensive talent. Never average less than 18 points per game during his career in Santa Barbra. Shot 43 percent from 3-point range last season. More well rounded than people realize. Has an excellent frame and solid athleticism. Can score from anywhere on the court. Put up monster numbers against top-level competition including a 36-point, 10-rebound, four-assist, two-block, three-steal performance against UNLV.

Kyle O’Quinn // Norfolk State // Center

One of the fastest risers in the Draft. Won MVP at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament. Was the driving factor in Norfolk State’s upset of Missouri in the first round of the NCAA Tournament where he put up 26 points, 14 boards and two blocks. Stands 6-10 in shoes with a 7-5 wingspan. Has decent post moves but can rebound and block shots at a very strong rate.

Jae Crowder // Marquette // Small Forward

Won Big East Payer of the Year in just his second season as a Division 1 athlete (after transferring from a junior college). One of the strongest players in the Draft. Very undersized for a power forward at 6-4, but can play other positions. Had one of the more eye-popping statistical seasons in college basketball. Can do virtually everything on the court well except create his own shot. Seen as one of the most underrated prospects in the eyes of many stat geeks.

Mike Scott // Virginia // Power Forward

Scout after scout raves about him being the steal of the Draft. He has a fantastic mid-range game and polished jump shot that rarely misses the mark. Range extends out to 3-point range. Played at a slow pace at Virginia but still put up great numbers. Very efficient scorer. Reminds many of Udonis Haslem. Can contribute immediately.

Darius Johnson-Odom // Marquette // Shooting Guard

A shooter who thrives off jump shots and driving to the basket. Underrated as an athlete. Has great intangibles and is an extremely hard worker. Somewhat limited outside of scoring. Doesn’t do much else besides shoot. Has been very vocal about wanting to improve. Wants to defy his detractors.

Kevin Murphy // Tennessee Tech // Shooting Guard

A pure scorer who dropped 50 midway through the season. Is one of the best players in the Draft at creating his own shot. Can light it up from beyond the arc. Has good size for a shooting guard. Improved in other areas of the game as his career progressed. Can get tunnel vision at times.

Eric Griffin // Campbell // Power Forward

An absolute freak of an athlete. Was known last year for a series of incredible dunks. Started playing basketball at a very late age. Is still maturing but has shown phenomenal improvement in just four years. One of the best shot-blockers in the Draft. Could be a steal at 50 but will need time to develop before he’s a contributor at the next level.

Scott Machado // Iona // Point Guard

Led the NCAA in assists last season. Has outstanding court vision. Loves to push the pace. Is essentially Kendall Marshall at half the price. Has a toned frame but is somewhat diminutive. Not a great scorer. Needs to continue improving his shot from outside.

Furkan Aldemir // International // Power Forward

Put up ridiculous rebounding numbers in the Euroleague Tournament. Manages to get points even though he’s not a great offensive player. Is an average athlete but rebounds like his life depends on it. Needs to bulk up and improve his post-scoring tactics.

John Jenkins // Vanderbilt // Shooting Guard

Best shooter in the Draft. Flat-out incredible from deep. Does a good job of scoring off screens and finding the open spot on the floor for a pull-up jump shot. Led the SEC in scoring each of the past two seasons. Doesn’t do anything besides shooting at an elite level but does everything well and plays the game the right way. Some question his mediocre athleticism.

Marcus Denmon // Missouri // Shooting Guard

Very undersized for a shooting guard. Had an outstanding season scoring the basketball and leading Missouri to a No. 1 ranking in the country. Shot better than .460 percent from the field, .400 percent from downtown and .895 percent from the line. Has NBA range and then some. Size appears to be a serious hindrance according to many scouts.

Khris Middleton // Texas A&M // Small Forward

Was ranked as a potential first rounder prior to the start of the season but suffered injuries and inconsistent play thus damaging his draft stock. One of the more creative players in the Draft. Has a very intriguing midrange game. Needs to improve his jump shot. Could be excellent value if he’s dedicated to improving.

Terrell Stoglin // Maryland // Point Guard

Is listed at 6 feet without shoes but looks much smaller. A pretty awful passer for a point guard. Is really a shooting guard at heart. Not a great defender because of his size. Led the ACC in scoring as a sophomore. Can light it up in a variety of ways, including from downtown. Has an impressive handle and can penetrate with speed when needed.

Festus Ezeli // Vanderbilt // Center

Some believe he’s the best center in the Draft. Didn’t have the type of season many predicted he would. Is still very raw on offense and has concrete hands when it comes to receiving passes from his teammates. Has great physical tools including a chiseled frame and lengthy wingspan but doesn’t always utilize them as best he can. Would likely be tempting to select. Still has a long way to go before he’s an NBA pro.

Robbie Hummel // Purdue // Small Forward

Was once considered a first rounder. Sat out the entire 2010-11 season with his second ACL tear. Injury history will almost certainly play a role in his NBA career if drafted. Is an excellent shooter for a power forward. Can open the floor up for his teammates. Has one of the best basketball IQs in the Draft. Very good passer. Never forces the issue. Lets the game come to him. A hot name at this point in time.

Kevin Jones // West Virginia // Power Forward

Had a truly great season last year averaging 20 and 11 as a senior. Can stretch the floor but tends to fall in love with shots he doesn’t often make. Is a much better low post threat where he scores in a variety of ways. Has a soft touch around the rim. Plays with childlike enthusiasm. Finds a way to get things done in the face of adversity. Meteoric rise raises questions about his long-term success in the NBA.

Kim English // Missouri // Small Forward

Had a breakout season as a senior averaging nearly 15 points per game for one of the best teams in the country. Had a great showing at the PIT. Has been lighting it up from distance in workouts. Isn’t much more than a shooter but can stroke it with efficiency. Also not a great athlete. Fairly one dimensional but competes on both ends of the court.